The students need a basic understanding of chemistry, physics, and mathematics in order to absorb the complex models disscussed in this course. These models include the formation of the Universe, formation of planets, orbital mechanics, nuclear processes such as fission and fusion, operation in low or zero gravity environments, and the economics of new energy sources. It is felt that it would require senior standing before students will have been exposed to all of these disciplines.

There is not a single textbook for this class since it covers such a wide range of topics. A reference list is given at the end of each lecture for that specific topic. Some examples of the over 100 references cited are given below:

Alfven, H., and Arrhenius, G., 1972, Origin and Evolution of the Earth-Moon System, The Moon, v 5, 210-230.

Bowring, S.A., and Housh, T., 1005, The Earth's Early Evolution, Science, 269, 1535-1540.

Cassen, P., and Wooum, D.S., 1999 The origin of the Solar System, in P.R. Weissman, McFadden, L., and T.V. Johnson, editors, Encyclopedia of the Solar System, Academic Press, San Diego, 35-64.

Cooper, H.S.F., 1970, Moon Rocks, Dial, New York, 197p.

Feldman, W.C., Barraclough, Maurice, S., Elphic, R.C., Lawrence, D.J., Thomsen, D.R., and Binder, A.B., 1998, Major Compositional Units of the Moon: Lunar Prospector Thermal and Fast Neutrons, Science, 281, 1489-1493.

Lawrence, D.J., Feldman, W.C., Barraclough, B.L., Binder, A.B., Elphic, R.C., Maurice, S., and Thomsen, D.R., 1998, Global Elemental Maps of the Moon: The Lunar Prospector Gamma-Ray Spectrometer, Science, 281, 1484-1485.

Spudis, P.D., 1996, The Once and Future Moon.Smithsonian, p 157-169.

Wilhelms, D. E., 1987, The Geologic History of the Moon, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1348, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, 302p.

Schmitt, H.H., 1994, Lunar Industrialization: How to Begin?, Journal of The British Interplanetary Society, 47, 527-530.

Robert G. Jahn, Physics of Electric Propulsion (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1968).

Ernst Stuhlinger, Ion Propulsion for Space Flight (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1964).

Bilder, et. al., 1989, Legal Regimes for the Mining of Helium-3 from the Moon, WCSAR-TR-AR3-8901-1, p54-79.

Schmitt, H.H., 1992, INTERLUNE Concept for Helium-3 Fusion Development, in W.Z. Sadeh, et al., editors, Engineering, Construction, and Operationsin Space III, p804-814.Archie E. Roy, Orbital Motion (Inst of Physics, Bristol, 1988).

Richard H. Battin, An Introduction to the Mathematics and Methods of Astrodynamics (AIAA, New York, 1987).

Ernst Stuhlinger, Ion Propulsion for Space Flight (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1964).

It is the instructor's intention to...

familiarize students with the fact that there are valuable resources in Space.

familiarize students with the origin of resources in Space.

familiarize students with the ways in which resources from Space can be obtained.

expose students to the engineering challenges to be faced in Space.

expose students to the legal, economic and environmental aspects of "harvesting" resources from Space.

Course Outcomes: Students must be able to...

recognize the specific elements that will be needed in Space.

understand how to use life-supporting elements to develop a base in Space.

recognize the importance of energy to any successful Space endeavor.

understand how the transportation sector will dictate the viability of Space Industries.

develop an appreciation of environmental constraints on the use of energy systems.

understand more about rocket propulsion using nuclear energy.

understand more about the role of fusion in the development of Space.

This course meets 3 times per week for conventional 50-minute lectures.

The following statement indicates which of the following considerations are included in this course: economic, environmental, ethical, political, societal, health and safety, manufacturability, sustainability.

NEEP 533 focuses on extraction of natural resources beyond the usual terrestrial boundaries. Major portions of the class are devoted to "legal, economic and environmental" aspects of "harvesting" resources from Space. There is an explicit connection to sustainability as harvesting extra-terrestrial resources implies a need to preserve and recognize the limits of terrestrial resources.

NEEP 533 is cross-listed with Astronomy and Geology. It serves as either a senior technical elective or a first-year graduate student breadth elective. In terms of the NE program, it provides a major emphasis on environmental and contemporary issues as it provides a unique way of addressing the issue of sustainability and limited terrestrial natural resources.